Sand-trap.



W. H. WHITE.

"SAND TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2, 1915.

1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- W. H. WHITE.

SAND TRAP. APPLICATION FILED AUG-2 1915.

ami imam M J M W WILLIAM H. ITE, F ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO WHITE-AMERICAN SANDER COMPANY, INC., 0]? ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

SAND-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 11916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, WILLIAM H. WHITE a citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sand-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to improvements in sanding devices for locomotives, and particularly to sand traps of the general type shown in my prior Patents No. 1,086,964., dated Feb. 10, 1914, and No. 1,117,119, dated Nov. 10, 1914, and my prior application Serial No. 9395, filed Feb. 19, 1915, allowed June 2, 1915.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple and effective means for cleaning out the sand supply pipe leading from the sand box whenever occasion requires and for maintaining, under' all ordinary conditions, a loose and free condition of the sand within said pipe, so as to prevent or reduce to a minimum the liability of the sand clinging to or clogging in the pipe owing to the presence of moisture or from other causes.

A further object of the invention is to provide. simple and efiective connecting means for simultaneously supplying jets of air from a source of supply, such as the main air reservoir on the locomotive, to the sand supply pipe and the sand delivery pipe for keeping said pipes in an unobstructed condition.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a locomotive showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the sand trap and connecting pipe. Fig. 3 is a vertical transversesection on the line 33 of Fig. 2'. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig 5 is a detail section through the blast tube in the supply pipe and upright section of the trap.

The trap, as stated, is of the general construction disclosed in my aforesaid prior patents and application, and preferably comprises an L-shaped body 1 having an upright or inlet section 2 and a lateral or horizontal section 3. The section 2 connects with the lower end of a sand supply pipe 4 leading from the sand box 5, while the sectlon 3 connects with adelivery or sanding pipe 6 through which the sand is conducted to the track. The body 1 is interiorly and longitudinally cored to produce a sand channel 7 having horizontal and vertical branches, the vertical branch being directly connected with the supply pipe to receive the sand therefrom, and the horizontal branch being directly connected with the delivery pipe for the dischargeof the sand in the sanding action to the track. Arranged at the point of intersection of the vertical and horizontal branches of the sand channel is a blast nozzle 8, through which a blast of air is supplied to discharge the sand through the horizontal branch of the channel and into the delivery pipe. This nozzle may be and preferably is of one of the forms disclosed in my prior patents or application referred to, but may be of any other suitable construction. Formed in the trap body is an auxiliary channel 9 which has a vertical portion opening through the base of the trap and a horizontal portion threaded to receive a curved clean-out or blast tube 10 extending into the upper or receiving end of the delivery pipe 6, whereby said delivery pipe, whenever choked, may be freed from accumulated material. y In accordance with my present invention, I provide means for clearing the supply pipe 4 and vertical or receiving branch of the sand channel of all bodies or particles of sand tending to adhere to or clog the pipe or channel. The means disclosed for this purpose consist of a blast tube 11 of comparatively small diameter extending upwardly through the bottom of the trap at one side of the delivery end of the blast nozzle and projecting through the vertical branch of the sand channel and upwardly into the supply pipe 4. This tube has a closed upper end which terminates below the point of connection of the supply pipe with the sand box, and at points throughout its length the said tube is formed with perforations or jet apertures 12 through which jets of compressed air are injected into the supply pipe and vertical branch of the channel.

Thetubes 10 and 11 are preferably supplied with compressed air from a common, source of supply, which may have as its origin themain air'res'ervoir of the air brake. system on the l'ocpmot'ive. From the main air reservoir suitable pipes or conductors extend to the cab and thence to the sand trap, the delivery ends of the respective conductors 13 and 1-1, through which air is supplied to the blast nozzle and clearing tubes and 11, being connected to unions or conpling members 15 and 16, the union 15 detachably connecting the pipe 13 with the body of the blast nozzle 8, while the union 16 connects the pipe 14: with a short pipe section 17 fitted into the receiving end of the channel 9. Extending from the union 16 to the tube 11 is a conducting connection consisting of pipes 18 and 19 detachably connected by a coupling 20, the pipe 18 being connected by a bushing or union 21 with one side of the connection 16, while the pipe 19 is connected with the tube 11 through. the medium of an elbow 22. This construction permits of the quick and convenient assemblage and disassemblage of the parts, their economical manufacture and maintenance, and their ready replacement when worn or injured. 1

In the use of sanding devices of the character described, it is'well known that there is a tendency of the sand to clog the conductors, owing sometimes to the nature of the sand employed and at other times to the presence of moisture. Under all conditions the sand is liable to contain a greater or less percentage of moisture, and owing to this fact, and in some cases to the binding tendency of the sand, it frequently happens that the pipes become clogged, either partially or completely, thus preventing the sanding device from acting or impairing its efliciency. In practice, the supply of air through the air conducting pipes 13 and 14 may be controlled by the engineer from the cab, said pipes being provided with suitable controlling valves for that purpose. When the valve in the pipe 13 is open the sand, which feeds by gravity from the sand box into the sand trap, is discharged by the blast of air. from the blast nozzle into the delivery pipe. If, however, the sand'should bind in the apparatus, due to the presence of moisture or to the compact nature of the sand, the engineer by opening the valve in the pipe 14 will supply air to the blast tubes 10 and 11, which tubes will respectively blow out or clear the delivery and supply pipes. When conditions are such that trouble is encountered-in supplying the sand to the track, the clearing tubes may be kept in operation throughout the sanding action, by which an absolute supply of a proper quantity of sand to the track will be insured. It will be evident that as the tube 11 extends upwardly into the feed conduit between the'sand box and body of the trap andis provided with jetapertures throughout, the air discharged from these apertures .will keep. the sand agitated and loosened up and prevent it from clinging to the walls of the conduit, so that a constant feed of the sand to the trap will be obtained. The clearing device in the supply pipe may be used independent of or supplied with air independent of the clearing device in the delivery pipe, but it is preferred to employ them in combination as shown,so that the sand will be dislodged at any point where it tends to hang or cling, thus absolutely preventing the apparatus from clogging.

As shown, the apertures 12 are arranged at an outward and downward angle of inclination, and the series of apertures is disposed in the form of a spiral around the pipe 11, whereby the air entering the pipe and striking the abutment or closure 12 at the upper end thereof will be compressed and forced downward and outward through the perforations. By this action a blast is created which has a whirling motion, where by the surfaces of the trap and pipe will. be kept clear and the body of sand within the channel 7 agitated and kept loose at all times.

I claim 1. In asanding device, the combination of a sand box, a sand trap arranged horizontally below the level of the sand box, and having a vertical inlet, a supply conduit extending vertically between the sand box and inlet of the sand trap, and a perforated blast pipe extending lengthwise of and within and throughout the length of said conduit.

2. In a sanding device, the combination of a sand box, a sand trap arranged below the level. of the sand box, a supply conduit between the sand box and Sand trap, and means for supplying a substantially continuous series of blasts of air in a spiral path throughout the length of said conduit.

3. In a sanding device, a sand box. a sand trap arranged below the level of the sand box, a supply conduit extending between the sand box and sand trap, and means for producing a. whirling blast of air within the length of said conduit.

4. In a sanding device. a sand box, av sand trap arranged below the level of the sand box, a supply conduit extending between the sand box and the sand trap, and an air blast pipe disposed within the sand trap and extending upwardly within said conduit to a point inproximity to the sand box, said box, a conductor connecting the same, and a blast pipe extending within the sand trap and substantially the length of said conductor and provided at intervals throughout its length with air blast perforations.

7. In a sanding device, a sand trap provided with a sand channel having an upright portion and a lateral portion, a sand box, a supply pipe connecting the sand box with the upright portion of the sand channel, a delivery pipe leading from the outer end of the lateral portion of the sand channel, a blast nozzle at the angle of interseo tion of said channels, a blast tube extending from the trap into the delivery pipe, a blast tube extending upwardly into the vertical portion of the channel and supply pipe, and means for supplying air to the blast nozzle and blast tubes.

8. In a sanding apparatus, a sand trap having a sand channel provided with a vertical portion and a lateral portion, a supply pipe communicating with the vertical portion of the channel, a delivery pipe leading from the lateral portion of the channel, a blast nozzle at the angle of intersection of said portions of the channel, a blast tube extending from the trap into the delivery pipe, a blast tube extending from below upwardly into the vertical portion of the channel and the supply pipe, an air supply pipe connected with the blast nozzle, a second air supply pipe, and conducting connections between said second air supply pipe and the blast tubes. I

9. A sand trap having a sand channel provided with a vertical portion and a lateral portion, adapted respectively for con nection with supply and delivery pipes, a blast nozzle at the angle of intersection of said channel portions, blast tubes carried by the trap to extend into said supply and delivery pipes, and conductors for supplying compressed air to the blast nozzle and blast tubes.

10. In combination, a sand trap, asupply conductor leading thereto, and an air blast tube disposed within said trap and conductor and having a series of spirally disposed angularly arranged jet apertures.

11. In a sanding device, asand trap, a sand box, a conductor connecting the same,

fill

and an air blast pipe within said conductor having perforations arranged to produce a whirling blast.

12. In a sanding device, a sand. trap, a sand box, a conductor connecting the same, and a perforated air blast pipe disposed longitudinally within said conductor and wholly at one side of the longitudinal center thereof.

13. In a sanding device, a sand trap having a vertically disposed inlet, a sand box disposed above the inlet of the sand trap,

a vertically disposed conductor connecting the outlet of the sand box with the inlet of the trap, and a blast pipe extending within the inlet of the trap and conductor and terminating in' proximity to the outlet of the sand box, said conductor having a closed upper end and an annular series of spirally arranged perforations, said perforations being angled in an outward and downward direction.

14:- In a sanding device, a sand box, a sand trap, a conductor between the same, and a blast pipe within said conductor having a closed upper end and perforations below the same and angled in an outward and downward direction.

15. In a sanding device, a; sand box, a sand trap, a conductor between the same,

and a blast pipe within said conductor pro-.

vided with means for projecting streams of air in an outward and downward direction and substantially in a spiral path.

16. In a sanding device, the combination of a sand box, a sand trap arranged horizontally elow the level of the sand box 

